Today I bought a wireless router from CTC, hyderabad, india. To purchase that I enquired the cost in multiple shops and prices are differing as usual from shop to shop. In one shop, he quoted very less amount compared to other shops in the market. While others are quoting INR 2600, this guy quoted 2000 only. Since the cost is less, I prepared to buy that and tried opening the box. The shop keeper immediately stopped and warned me that I cannot open it till I pay the money. I was shocked. This box doesn’t have any seal on it and I am sure the shop keeper would have opened N number of times before. But I don’t know why he is trying to impose such a restriction on customer. I told him that I will buy it and he is responsible if any item found missing in the box and he agreed for that. I opened the box but has suspicious feeling stuck somewhere in mind that this guy is trying to cheat me in some aspect. I purchased the wireless router and left the shop with these thoughts.
I reached home very late night and started my new wireless router setup. I read the installation manual property and there it is mentioned that by default router will not consist any username and the password is “admin”. I opened browser and connected to http://192.168.1.1 and enter the password “admin” with blank user name as instructed in manual. But it is not working. I tried multiple times but ended with same results. I tried few other default password combinations that I know but no help. Finally I decided to reset the router to factory default settings.
The reset to factory settings involves holding the reset button for 30-60 seconds and restarting the router. I did it and tried to enter in with default credentials, but still not working. I tried multiple times with different pen tips, needles, etc to hold the reset button but in vain. Now I realized why that the shop keeper offered it for less price. I suspect someone returned it back because of some problem. That could be the reason I failed to enter in with default credentials as previous purchaser might had set the password of his choice.
So, now I am in a situation where either I don’t know the current credentials to login to the router or not in a position to reset to the default settings.
In this situation, my only available option is to return the device to vendor and demand for explanation and replacement. Before to that, I want to use my sysadmin skills to see if I can fix this issue myself — so started researching in internet.
After reading some posts and forum threads, I realized that reset button by default has problems in Cisco LINKSYS WRT120N model wireless routers and only option is to upgrade the firmware to latest version which fixes the reset button functionality. I downloaded the latest firmware from internet and installed on the device and I am able to take the device to factory default settings now J
Now I have mixed feelings. One way I am happy that I fixed the problem myself and other way I am sad that I was cheated by the shop keeper. Anyways, I love to troubleshoot, understand and fix the problems — I am thankful to the bloody shop keeper for giving such wonderful chanceJ.
In my next posts, I will write about “how to make reset button working in ‘Cisco LINKSYS WRT120N’ wireless router” and “How to reset ‘Cisco LINKSYS WRT120N’ router password to factory settings”
This ends by rambling. Happy learning….